Fansided

2018 NBA Mock Draft: March is finally here

By Brendon Kleen

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 26: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his made basket in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Breslin Center on January 26, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 26: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his made basket in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Breslin Center on January 26, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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GREENVILLE, NC – JANUARY 31: East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) guards Tulane Green Wave guard Melvin Frazier (35) during a game between the Tulane Green Wave and the East Carolina Pirates at Williams Arena – Minges Coliseum in Greenville, NC on January 31, 2018. Tulane defeated East Carolina 71-69 in OT. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, NC – JANUARY 31: East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) guards Tulane Green Wave guard Melvin Frazier (35) during a game between the Tulane Green Wave and the East Carolina Pirates at Williams Arena – Minges Coliseum in Greenville, NC on January 31, 2018. Tulane defeated East Carolina 71-69 in OT. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

F. Tulane. Melvin Frazier. 29. player. 41.

Under the tutelage of Tulane coach Mike Dunleavy, Frazier has developed from a no-name 28 percent 3-point shooter as a freshman to a first-round prospect as a junior.

Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune spoke with both Dunleavy and Frazier about the junior’s growth in three seasons, his potential and the likelihood he declares for this year’s draft. “He’s one of those guys you look at as a two-way player, a guy that is a very safe bet at the next level,” Dunleavy told Duncan.

Dunleavy added that he feels confident letting Frazier guard both point guards and wings, allowing the Green Wave star to use his length and quickness to his advantage. Frazier will likely be able to guard many NBA bigs as well, considering his size. Regardless, his versatility and switching potential makes him an ideal modern NBA defender. He is a lot like Josh Jackson, last year’s No. 4 pick, on that end.

Offensively, though he has shot 39 percent from distance on three attempts per game this season, Frazier is tough to trust. He doesn’t have the ball-handling skill of someone like Jackson or other top wing prospects, relying instead on his explosiveness and athleticism to score points inside the arc. Though he has increased his 3-point efficiency, his free-throw shooting has not seen a similar jump, which makes his NBA shooting worrisome.

Then again, it’s the Warriors. They can mask a lot of Frazier’s deficiencies and put him in situations where his athleticism will play.